Go "All In" at Our Gala — Every Ticket Protects Children
Go "All In" at Our Gala — Every Ticket Protects Children
While law enforcement pursues offenders and other nonprofits focus on restorative care for survivors, Project Protect Our Children is the nation’s first nonprofit to harness the power and potential of middle and high school students as part of the solution to end child trafficking. Through organized, student-led clubs, we amplify youth voice and focus on prevention, stopping trafficking before it begins.
Through innovative, prevention-focused programs, we fill the critical gaps in education and awareness that allow child trafficking to persist and grow. Our programs engage, educate, and empower students, families, educators, businesses, and community members with the tools to recognize red flags, respond effectively, and take action. By equipping youth to be advocates, parents and educators to intervene early, and communities to unite in prevention, we are building a powerful, generational movement to end human trafficking at its roots. We invite you to explore our site to learn how you can be part of the solution for creating a safer tomorrow where every child is free from predators, exploitation, and abuse.
Denise Mears discovered how little children knew about the deception skills of predators while working with a nonprofit providing direct services to teenage survivors of trafficking. The heartbreaking stories victims shared ignited her passion for ending child trafficking. In 2019 Denise founded Project Protect Our Children.
At the core of her vision was eliminating glaring gaps in education essential for preventing a crime that thrives in lack of awareness. She also understood that the battle requires a proactive, comprehensive approach to empowering whole communities with knowledge. That realization only intensified as technology and the internet made it easier for children to be victimized both in person and online.
With a commitment to provide Project Protect Our Children’s programs and materials at no cost, Denise has removed obstacles to empowering children and the communities they live in, with the prevention knowledge they need, while inspiring the next generation of leaders to end child trafficking.
Together, we are working to combat Human Trafficking in our communities.
Our leadership and state-licensed educators represent more than two decades of experience in human trafficking prevention. The age-appropriate, trauma-informed materials they’ve produced have earned the respect of law enforcement, and generated invitations to participate in prestigious anti-trafficking conferences across the country.
Assistant Vice President of Operations
Employee Benefit Systems
LPC-Associate
Tx. Harmony Counseling
Educator
Humble Independent School District
Certified Residential Appraiser
Brubaker & Associates
Founder and Executive Director
Project Protect Our Children
Sr Vice President, Wealth Advisor
Frost Investments
Consulting & Advocacy
D. Reed Coaching
Homemaker
Attorney
Lamm & Smith, P.C
Owner
Palmer Logistics
Director of Human Resources
Palmer Logistics
School Board Trustee
HISD
Denise Mears is the Founder and Executive Director of Project Protect Our Children. Denise began her work in the anti-human trafficking space in 2016, working with youth who had experienced commercial sexual exploitation in Houston. She found her passion for prevention after years of hearing different variations of the same story from youth survivors. Denise founded Project Protect Our Children in 2019 to fill glaring gaps in the anti-human trafficking space. She recognized that the battle against child sex trafficking, exploitation, and abuse requires more than just intervention—it requires a proactive, comprehensive, and holistic community approach to prevention. As the Executive Director, she launched Project Protect Our Children’s unique, innovative, impactful, and transformative programming to engage, educate, and empower communities to protect our most vulnerable population, our children.
Denise majored in business at Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, graduated from Rice University’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives, and completed Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Training through the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University. She is a Texas Education Agency-certified provider of human trafficking training for school district board members, charter school board members, and school officers and a continuing professional education (CPE) provider for the State of Texas.
Denise is a past chair of the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force’s PREVENT subcommittee. She is a member of the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition, Montgomery County Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance of the Southern District of Texas, Texas Family Leadership Council, and the Texas Network of Youth Services.
Sydney Schneckenburger serves as our Community and Development Specialist, bringing a strong background in leadership, relationship building, and community engagement to the team. A recent graduate of Louisiana State University, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Strategic Leadership and minors in Economics and Spanish.
While at LSU, Sydney discovered her passion for service and connection through her leadership roles, where she coordinated large-scale events, built meaningful partnerships, and led initiatives that strengthened her campus community.
With a heart for helping others and a deep commitment to protecting youth, Sydney brings energy, creativity, and compassion to her role. She is passionate about empowering communities to take action against child trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. Through her work, she will help expand Project Protect Our Children’s outreach, strengthen partnerships, and build lasting connections that create safer futures for children and families.
Devyn Steinhilber, a San Antonio native, brings a dynamic background to our team. She graduated from Texas A&M in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Communication and a minor in Leadership, and her professional journey includes valuable experience in both the news industry and sales. This unique blend of skills makes her perfectly suited to connect with our community and amplify our message.
Outside of work, Devyn loves to explore new places and create memories with her husband! At home, her world revolves around her beloved German Shepherd, Lux, and her two cats, Luna and Mouse. Staying active is also a big part of Devyn’s life; she enjoys working out in her free time. She’s excited to bring her passion for connection and her local roots to our team!